20. Plomin, R., Nitz, K., & Rowe, D. C. (1990). Behavioral genetics and aggressive behavior in childhood. In M. Lewis & S. M. Miller (Eds.), Handbook of developmental psychopathology. New York; Plenum Press.

Behavioral genetics has contributed to the study of psychopathology, provided a theory of individual differences in behavioral pathology, devised methods that can disentangle the influence of nature and nurture, and produced data conclusive to hereditary influences in psychopathology. This chapter introduces developmental behavioral genetics, using aggressive behavior in childhood. Prior to reviewing relevant behavioral genetic research two prerequisite issues are discussed: the normal distribution of individual differences and quantitative genetics.